Steering-wheel.



J. W, M'ARKHAM. STEERING WHEEL. APPLICATION mEb OCT. 13.1916.

Patented Feb. '5, 1918 Witnesses ally to '10 anus WILLIAM MARK-HAM, or nnmsrnone, INDIANA.

STEERING-WHEEL.

Laaaiea.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, tht.

Application filed October 13,1916. Serial No. 125,440.

To all whom it may. eoncem.

Be it known thatFl, JAMns W. MARKHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Armstrong, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Steering-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains generlocks, and aims to provide a novel and improved locking device for the steering wheel of an automobile, wherebyto-prevent the steering of'the automobile through the medium of the hand wheel when the lockv is' properly operated, and thereby frustrate any attempt by an unwarranted or malieiously.v inclined chine; I r

lit is also the object of the invention to provide a locking device assembled with the steering wheel and column whereby the wheel can be released from the steering shaft when the car is vacated, in order that the shaft cannot be rotated by means of the wheel, since the wheel when turned will the provide a locking simply rotate loosely.

A fu her object of the invention is .to device of the naturein dicated which is extremely simple and inexensive inconstruction, which can be read- 11y applied to various steering wheels and columns without entailing prohibitive trouble or expense, and which is thoroughly practical and efficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination, and arrangement of parts and d1in that', hanges m the' precise embodimentiof within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. c

The invention is illustrated in the accom-- panying drawing, wherein Figure 1 isa median section of the device as applied, r

F 1g. 2 is a plan view thereof with the hub 0a and retaining disk removed. I the drawing, there is illustrated the u per end of the steering column including the casing 1 and steering shaft 2,w 1 th the upper protrnding end of which the steering wheel 3 is assembled through the medium of the present device.

person steadingthe mainvention herein disclosed can be made In carrying out the invention, there is fitted Within the hub 4 of the wheel 3, a bushing 5 which is flush with the faces of the hub l and which fits loosely within the hub so that the-bushing and wheel can rotate relatively under certain conditions. The bushing 5,is-fitted upon the upper termlnal of the shaft 2 and is. fastened thereto by means of a key 6 or other suitable device for that purpose. A retaining disk 7 seats upon the upper end or face of the bushing 5 and its margin overlaps the upper face of the hub 4, the disk 7 being secured to the bushing 5 by means of screws 8 or other securing elements, whereby the bushing 5 bemg secured to the shaft 2 will hold the hub 4; upon the bushing, since the disk 7 will resist the removal of the hub 4 from the bushing. v A hub cap 9 is fitted over-the disk 7 and incloses the same, and the rim of the cap 9 is secured upon the hub 4 by means of screws 10 or other securing elements, and the cap 9 incloses the-underlying parts.

Secured to the periphery of the hub 4 is a suitable key controlledlock including a casing 11 fastened to the hub, and a key barrel 12 for receiving a proper key to 0perate the lock bolt 13 which projects from the casing 11 and slides through an aperture 14: in the hub 41 to enter a keeper recess 15 in the bushing 5. When the bolt 13 is projected into the recess 15, the hub 4 is locked to the bushing 5 and shaft 2, so that the shaft 2. can be rotated by means of the hand wheel 3. When the bolt 13 is retracted, the hand wheel is released from the shaft 2, and will simply rotate idly without rotating the shaft 2, so thatit is necessary to employ the proper key for moving the lock bolt 13 into the recess 15'before the machine chn again be steered. This serves to thwart the running of the car by a person not possessing the requisite key. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A vehicle steering device. embodymg a steering column having a casing anda steering-shaft therein having its upper end projecting therefrom, abushing secured on sa d end of theshaft at the upper'end of sand casing, a retaining disk bearing agamst'the bushing and havmg its edge portion projecting therefrom, securing means extendlng through the disk and engaging the bush ng,

a. hand Wheel having a hub rotatable npon the bushing and held between the ilppe'r as my own, I hnye hereto aflixed my slgna end of said casing and edge portion of said ture in the presence of two witnesses.

disk, a cap fitting over said disk, securing JAMES WILLIAM MARKHAM. 5 means extending through the cap and en Witnesses:

gaging the hub,'-and means for connecting v EDWIN A. ANoERMnmR, said hub and bushing. 1

In'-testimony that I- claim the foregoing CHAS. Knmmmmn. 

